An Ipswich charity that helps the vulnerable will be planting trees and produce outside its community café in Felixstowe Road.

Emmaus Suffolk is linking up with Greener Ipswich CIC and Ipswich Community Shed to construct community garden planters for the Felixstowe Road building, which would grow trees, flowers, fruit and vegetables.

This project is funded by a grant from Ipswich Borough Council’s Towns Fund, supported by the government, which aims to improve neighbourhood shopping areas.

Emmaus Suffolk is a charity that works with vulnerable, socially isolated, or long-term unemployed people and those at risk of homelessness across the county. 

The charity's community café The Royal Oak, a former pub which hosts weekly wellbeing hubs and serves a range of affordable meals.

Chief executive Claire Staddon said: “We are really grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with two local organisations and improve make the exterior of The Royal Oak more welcoming and attractive.

"Gardens are so important for wellbeing, and we want our café to be a place where people can thrive and feel at the heart of a community.

"We hope to open more community gardens across our site as we know how important getting out into nature is for our mental health.”